Container rim protector



Feb. 17, 1959 F. c. NICHOLS CONTAINER RIM PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 13, 1957Frank C. Nichols.

IN VEN TOR.

A 'T"T'ORNEV6.

United States Patent 2,873,881 v CONTAINER RIM rnomcron Frank c.Nichols, Lees Summit, Mo.- Application November 13, 1957, Serial No.696,218

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-90 This invention relates to rim protectors for canscontaining paint or other liquids, and more particularly to such aprotector used on open liquid containing cans or containers to preventaccumulation of liquid in the cover receiving groove therefor.

.Co'nventional can's or containers used forfpaint sand other liquidshave a flange structure at their mouth with an annular groove forreceiving a complementary portron on a cover or lid to provide aneffective sealing of the container. When the cover or lid is removedfrom the container, the annular groove is exposed, and subsequent use ofthe contents of the container, either by pouring a. portion of thecontents from the can or by .dipping a brush inthe contents and wipingthe brush on the flange, by mixing. of the paint or other contents,usually results in the paint or liquid entering the annular groove. Thepaint or liquid in the annular groove results in poor sealing when thelid is replaced on the can and deterioration of the c'ontentsduringstorage, and also makes it difiicult 'to again remove the lid or coverbecause of drying of the liquid in the groove causing adherence of thelid or cover thereto.

The'principal objects of the present invention are to provide aprotector which is applied to open containers to protect the rim .andannular groove from accumulation of paint or liquid and therebyeliminate the abovementioned difliculties; to provide a unitaryprotector attachment of resilient material with portions s'ealinglyengaging the innerand outer edges of the can rim to prevent passage ofliquid thereby; to provide such a protector attachment that forms anextension preventing spilling or splashing of liquid from the containerduring mixing or removal of the contents from the container by pouringor by a brush or other liquid applying tool; to provide such a protectorwith portions on which a brush may be supported out of the liquid yetfor draining into the container; and to provide a can rim protector thatis economical to manufacture, easily applied and efficient in keepingthe *rim and annular groove therein clean during use of the contents ofthe container.

In accomplishing these and other objects of'the present invention, Ihave provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of whichis illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a protector attachment embodying thepresent invention applied to an open container.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the container and attachmentthereon.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the protector attachment.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the protectorattachment.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a container such as a typical can for containing paint andthe like having a cylindrical side wall 2 closed at one end by a bottom3. The upper end of the cylindrical wall 2 is joined by a conventionalroll or bead 4 with an end piece 5 forming an annular Patented Feb.

rim flange extending inwardly from the upper end of the side wall 2. Theend piece or member 5 is formed to provide an annular'groove 6 having abottom, 7 and side walls 8 and 9 with the upper edge of the inner sidewall 9 rolled as at 10 to form a protrusion extending laterally inwardlyfromthe upper end of said inner wall of the groove. The conventionalcover that shown) has a depending portion that extends into the 'annulargroove is open, and the groove 6 and rim are exposed to paint or liquidcontents of the can as they are removed by pouring or by brush or otherapplying tool, as well as to splashing when the liquid is mixed.

The protector attachment 12 is adapted to be applied to the open upperend of the can to protect the rim flange 5 and groove 6 fromaccumulations of the liquid from the container. The protector ispreferably of unitary structure molded or otherwise formed of resilientmaterial such as rubber, synthetic rubber or resilient synthetic resins,and is in the form of an annular member or body having a tubular orcircular wall 13 with the lower portion 14 having an inner diameter orbore of a cross-section for 'sleeving over the upper portion of thecontainer side wall 2. The bore is of a size slightly less than theouter dimension of the head or roll 4 whereby the inner surface 15 ofthe lower portion of the wall 13 will tightly engage said roll or bead 4when the protector is applied to the can. To facilitate application ofthe protector to the can, the lower portion of the wall 13 has its innersurface conically tapered downwardly and outwardly as at 16 from alocation intermediate the length thereof whereby the inner diameter atthe bottom opening 17 at the lower end of the wall 13 is slightly largerthan the outer diameter of the roll or bead 4.

A top wall 18 extends inwardly and downwardly from the cylindrical wall13 from a location intermediate the upper and lower ends 19 and 20respectively thereof, said top wall being conically tapered downwardlyand inwardly and terminating in a depending inner wall or skirt21-adapted to extend into and through the mouth 11 of the container 1.The inner wall or skirt 21 has an outer surface 22 larger in diameterthan the mouth 11 and is provided with a groove 23 adapted to receivethe roll orbead 10 when the protector attachment is applied to thecontainer 1. The lower outer portion of the inner wall 21 is tapered asat 24 from the lower edge 25 of said wall with the diameter of theoutside of the lower end of the wall 21 being less than the diameter ofthe mouth 11 to facilitate insertion of the wall 21 into said mouth. Thespacing between the inner surface of the cylindrical wall 13 and theouter surface of the inner wall 21, and the arrangement of the groove 23therein, is less than the distance from the outside of the head 4 andinside of the roll or bead 10 whereby when the attachment is applied toa can, and the walls 14 and 21 wedged into engagement with the heads 4and 10, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the walls 13 and 21 are spread toresiliently engage said beads and form a tight seal therewith.

' A plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs 26 depend from the topwall 18 in outwardly spaced relationto the inner wall 21 whereby saidlugs extend into the groove 6 when the attachment is applied to thecontainer 1.

' The spacing 27 between the inner surface 28 of the lugs engagementwith the inner surface of the groove side wall 9 and the roll or bead 10in the groove 23.

In using a protector attachment constructed as described, the lid orcover is removed from the can 1 and the attachment 12 placed .over. theopen end of the can and moved downwardly to engage the taper 2'4 withthe head 10-. The attachment is then pressed downwardly whereby thetaper 16on the inner portion of the wall 13 engages the bead 4, and dueto the resilient nature of the material from which the member 12 ismade, .said walls will'give on further downward movement until the bead10 enters the'groove 23 to a position. as shown in Fig. 2, and thentheresilient nature of the attachment holds the walls against the heads 4and 10 to provide a positive seal around. the top of the can orcontainer. 1, the lugsf26 and. the inner wall 21 cooperating to retainthe bead 10in the groove 23 to effectively lock the attachment'IZ on thecontainer. the can may be poured therefrom or a brush.may be dipped intothe contents andwiped on the wall 21 for use of the contents of the can.The wall.13 extends upwardly a substantialdistance from the top wall18-, whereby when desired a brush may be placed on said top wall and thehandle thereof engage the opposite upper edgev 19 of the wall 13' tosupportthe brush whereby any liquid in the brush can drain into. thecan. After using a portion of the paint or contents of the can, theprotector attachment is removed and the rim and annular groove of thecan will be clean for easy replacement ofthe cover or lid thereon.

It is to be understood thatwhileI have illustrated and describedone formof my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown except-insofarassuch-limitations are. includedinthe claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A unitary protector attachment of resilient-material for containershaving a cylindrical side wall and a rim flangewith an annular grooveextending around the container opening atone end of the container forreceiving a cover membercornprising, a continuous cylindrical tubularwall having a lower. portion for sleeving over the upper portion of thecontainer side wall in gripping engagement therewith, a top wallintegral with and extending downwardly and inwardly from said tubularwall and over said rim flange, an upstanding annular wall extendingabove said top wall in an upward continuation of said tubular wall, aninner wall integral with and depending from the top wall inner edge andarranged for insertion through-the container opening to dependtherebelow, said inner wall having an exterior tapered down- Then thecontents of through thecontainer opening, said lower portion of thewardly from a location intermediate the lengththereof for facilitatinginsertion through the container opening, said tubular wall and innerwall being adapted to wedge ingly engage and gripthe container side walland edge of the rimflange defining the container opening for sealingengagement therewith, said inner wall having a circumferential groovefor receiving the inner edge of the rim flange, and means depending fromthe top wall and extending into the annular groove of the container rimflange. and cooperating with the inner wall to grippingly engage -therim flange therebetween, said inner wall defining theopeningfor-accessto the interior of the container, said top walljforming an inclinedledge extending from said upstanding annular wall whereby any liquid onthe ledge will return to the container.

2. A unitary protector attachment of resilient materialfOn-cQntainerS-having a cylindrical side wall and a rim flange with anannular. groove extending around the containeropeningat-one endofthecontainer for receiving a cover member comprising, a continuouscylindrical tubular wall having a lower-portion to be sleeved over theupper. portion'of' the-container side wall in gripping engagementtherewith, a top wall extending downwardly and inwardly from said.tubular wall and over said rim flange and inupwardly' spaced-relationtosaid rim flange of the container: when-applied thereto, an upstandingannular wall extending above said top wall in an upward continuation ofsaid tubular wall,,an inner wall depending from the top wall inner; edgeand. arranged for insertion through the container opening to dependtherebelow in gripping'engagementwith said rim flange, said inner wallhaving an exterior tapered downwardly from a location intermediatethelength thereof for facilitating insertion tubular wall having aninterior tapered downwardly from a location intermediate the lowerendand the top wall torfacilitatingsleevingoven the container side wall,

' said tubular, wall and inner wall being adapted to wedgingly engagethe container side wall and edge of the rim flange'detiningthe'container. opening for sealing engagement therewith, said inner wallhaving a circumferential groove for receiving the inner edge of the rimflange, said inner walldefining'the opening for access to the interiorof' the container, said top wall forming a ledge .thereon forum insupporting the bristle end of a wet brush while the handle of the brushrests on the top of said upstanding annular wall at the opposite sidethereof whereby any liquid draining from the brush will return to thecontainer.

References'Cited-in the fileof this patent UNITED." STATES PATENTS2,591,482. Weltlich Apr. 1, 1952 2,722,347 Henke Nov. 1, 1955 2,756,899Crandall July 31, 1956 2,801,762 Atherton' Aug. 6, 1957

